Black Beauty & cat books for a 7 year old?

[EcoCustard]

Dd6 soon to be 7 has been independently reading since reception and loves to read. She mainly loves horses or cats but has read many of the Holly Webb type books. Trying to put together a book bundle for her 7th birthday. I loved Black Beauty but is it too much for a 7 year old? Opinions appreciated. Any friendly format recommendations if so? Also any cat books? Fiction or non fiction for either that anyone can recommend, please?

I had a beautiful illustrated version of Black Beauty, given to me by my late grandad who died shortly before my 8th birthday so I had definitely read it at 7.

How about James Herriott's Cat Stories?

I think 6 is way too young for Black Beauty. I was older when I read it - 9? 10? - and the death of Ginger still haunts me.

I was massively into horses when I was around that age. My 2 favourite books that I've still got are Midnight Dancer and The Enchanted Horse. Both would suit a younger reader

This might be one you have to order from Abe books or somewhere but there is a lovely book written by Beverly Cleary (author of the Ramona book) called Socks.
All about a cat called Socks who is adopted by a young couple but then (horror oh horror) they have a baby and poor Socks has his life turned upside down.
Also the children's version of the book about Dewey the Library Cat is nice.

Jenny and the Cat Club is a sweet book about cats that I loved at that age.

Black Beauty I think is too hard-hitting for such a young child. It was written to raise awareness of various types of cruelty to horses. And does it very well. Off the top of my head you have whipping, over-working (to death), accidents, the bearing rein suffering, pain and exhaustion.

Buy her a nice pony story instead.

DS (6) loves Toto the Ninja Cat series.

There's a lovely book of short stories I had called Bedtime Pony Stories that would be good for her age. I don't know if it's still in print though.

Some of the cat/horse Animal Ark books?

There is an Usbourne Young Readers book of Black Beauty.

www.waterstones.com/book/black-beauty/mary-sebag-montefiore/alan-marks/9780746070543

Toto the Ninja Cat!

Another vote for Toto.

And next year, start her on the Warrior Cat series. That's what got DS2 reading, but probably closer to 9.

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat! A kitten who is born as a witch's cat but just wants to find a loving home as a kitchen cat...

Holly Webb looks a bit like the modern-day version of Animal Ark actually.

Is Sheltie by Peter Clover still going?

Have a look at the Michael Morpurgo books all kinds of animal stores. When I was young I really enjoyed the Colin Dann books - similar themes.

Black Beauty is an amazing but brutal book. Really depends on the child. Dd1 read it unscathed. Dd2 is 9 and I wouldn't let her read it. She will be so upset and traumatised.

I also read midnight dancer when I was a child. I bought a second hand book online and currently reading it to my 7 year old. We are both enjoying it

Rspca and battersea both have a series my dc loved when they were similar ages. I think it's the battersea series which are all titled by the animals name eg daisy, Chester, max, Alfie.

Thank you for all the recommendations, they are brilliant. We have read Toto, enjoyed and read all the Animal Ark ones with cats & ponies. Gobbolino I read to her years ago and she loved it. Midnight Dancer & Socks sound perfect as does the Usborne version of Black Beauty. I cried when I read Black Beauty in places, but she is not like me 😁 hence my dithering.

Yes I loved this around that age too

How about the Derek Tangye books?

I'd never read Black Beauty until I read it to DD, probably at a similar age! Was awful - both of us sobbing, it is such a sad book... so whilst that's on me, I think 7 is a tad young and you've got some nice recommendations here.

For cats, Ottoline and the Yellow Cat is fantastic!

Carbonel (and sequels) by Barbara Sleigh are lovely cat books. Quite old now but still lovely.

I'm not remotely horsey and I was pretty traumatized by reading Black Beauty at the age of 10 so I'd leave that one for a bit tbh.

If you can get hold of it (try ebay) then Wish for a Pony by Monica Edwards had all of my children entranced at 7yo.

Although they did all then want a pony "to live in the garden"....

Spartapuss
Find the white horse - Dick King-Smith

We've just started reading Marshmallow Pie The at Superstar by Clara Vulliamy and that's going down very well so far. I think there are several more to the series.

We really loved the Hotel Flamingo series by Alex Milway - not specifically about cats or horses but lots of animals and very enjoyable.

The Cat and The King and Nice Work For The Cat and The King both by Nick Sharratt.

My DD (6) would choose only those glittery-covered, animal rescue type books but, as she still likes me to read to her before bed, I also mix in some that don't make me fall asleep as I'm reading 😬